The San Francisco Giants hit three home runs during game 5 of the NLCS. The final one, off the bat of Travis Ishikawa, sent them to the World Series to face the Kansas City Royals.
The Giants tied the game in the bottom of the eighth inning thanks to a home run by pinch hitter Michael Morse. They then escaped a bases loaded, two-out jam in the top of the ninth when Oscar Taveras grounded out to pitcher Jeremy Affeldt for the third out, setting the stage for the bottom of the inning.
Pablo Sandoval led off the San Francisco half of the ninth with a single. Hunter Pence followed with a fly out. Brandon Belt drew a walk, bringing Travis Ishikawa to the plate, who hit the series-winning three-run home run on the third pitch he saw from Michael Wacha.
It’s perhaps fitting Ishikawa ended up being the hero because he misplayed a ball hit by Jon Jay in the third inning that led to the opening run of the game.
With the Giants and Royals advancing to the World Series, we have a matchup between the winners of both wild card games. For the Giants, it will be their third World Series appearance in the past five years. The Royals will be making their first trip since 1985.
